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Austria vs Czechia
Italy vs Russia
Side-by-side comparison of Italy and Russia from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Italy
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,550 years
Russia
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,144 years
In short
Italy scores 75.8 in the NationsTree Index (19th in the world) and Russia scores 63.8 (51st), a gap of 12.0 points. Their trees are 41 m and 54 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Russia has 2.4 times the population of Italy. Russia is 57 times larger than Italy by land area. The economy of Russia is 96% larger than that of Italy (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Italy 58.9 million and Russia 143.5 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $62,803 in Italy and $49,568 in Russia (2025, international dollars). People in Italy live on average 10.5 years longer (84.0 vs 73.4 years).
Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, Italy ranks higher in the world on 25 and Russia on 12. Italy is clearly stronger in institutions & safety and tourism. Russia is clearly stronger in natural resources and military.
As a nation, Italy is the older of the two (statehood since 476, 1,550 years), compared with Russia (since 882). Over the last five years Italy improved faster (direction score 76 vs 45 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Italy and Russia.
Italy
137.1%
182nd of 189
Russiabetter
16.6%
15th of 189
Voice & accountabilityInstitutions & safety
Italybetter
77.6
34th of 205
Russia
31.3
178th of 205
Homicide rateInstitutions & safety
Italybetter
0.6
15th of 145
Russia
6.8
107th of 145
InflationEconomy
Italybetter
1.5%
50th of 180
Russia
8.7%
155th of 180
Life expectancySociety & health
Italybetter
84.0
11th of 217
Russia
73.4
122nd of 217
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Russia overtook Italy in GDP (PPP) in 2006 and has stayed ahead since.
Italy has been ahead of Russia in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Italy has been ahead of Russia in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Russia has been ahead of Italy in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
ItalyRussia All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Italy | Russia |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 302,07072nd/216 · 2024 | 17,125,1901st/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 295,72073rd/216 · 2024 | 16,376,8701st/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 58.9 m25th/217 · 2025 | 143.5 m9th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.06%174th/217 · 2025 | -0.11%178th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 199.467th/216 · 2024 | 8.8203rd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 69.7%92nd/217 · 2025 | 75.3%73rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 11.7%212th/217 · 2025 | 17.0%154th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 25.1%4th/217 · 2025 | 17.8%50th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $2.55 trn9th/210 · 2025 | $2.56 trn8th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $3.70 trn12th/199 · 2025 | $7.24 trn4th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $3.16 trn12th/199 · 2025 | $6.18 trn4th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $43,30937th/210 · 2025 | $17,54784th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $62,80336th/199 · 2025 | $49,56855th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $42,08031st/201 · 2025 | $15,96076th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 0.5%187th/210 · 2025 | 1.0%175th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.5%50th/180 · 2025 | 8.7%155th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 6.4%117th/187 · 2025 | 2.1%18th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 77.3%1992 | 17.9%4th/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 137.1%182nd/189 · 2025 | 16.6%15th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -3.1%110th/192 · 2025 | -3.9%129th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 2.1%145th/197 · 2025 | 3.1%127th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 22.6%108th/200 · 2025 | 29.7%55th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 15.0%42nd/192 · 2025 | 13.7%54th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 64.5%57th/200 · 2025 | 58.9%94th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $822.29 bn13th/182 · 2025 | $466.24 bn22nd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $773.02 bn11th/182 · 2025 | $397.18 bn25th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 32.2%102nd/183 · 2025 | 18.2%151st/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 30.3%132nd/183 · 2025 | 15.5%176th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 62.5%123rd/183 · 2025 | 33.7%173rd/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 2.6%91st/170 · 2025 | 43.1%25th/170 · 2021 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 78.5%22nd/171 · 2025 | 22.1%102nd/171 · 2021 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 11.3%111th/171 · 2025 | 6.6%133rd/171 · 2021 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.4%98th/171 · 2025 | 7.4%50th/171 · 2021 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 11.9%56th/168 · 2024 | 9.7%67th/168 · 2021 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 1.1%67th/191 · 2025 | 1.5%63rd/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.0%175th/196 · 2025 | 0.4%161st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.1%156th/209 · 2021 | 18.5%25th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.08%79th/197 · 2021 | 9.67%20th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.03%72nd/197 · 2021 | 5.86%11th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.61%11th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 2.05%35th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.01%154th/209 · 2021 | 0.31%79th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 23.5%43rd/206 · 2024 | 7.4%117th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 3,09382nd/183 · 2022 | 29,89520th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 38.4 m6th/194 · 2020 | 6.4 m31st/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $20.46 bn7th/175 · 2020 | $4.96 bn30th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 3.7%95th/168 · 2020 | 1.3%145th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 21.4 m10th/107 · 2020 | 12.4 m16th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 84.011th/217 · 2024 | 73.4122nd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 2.714th/196 · 2024 | 5.241st/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 4.1926th/174 · 2022 | 5.118th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 3.156th/145 · 2022 | 6.88th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 94%66th/193 · 2024 | 97%29th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 84.4%64th/153 · 2023 | 98.6%15th/153 · 2021 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 100.7%60th/173 · 2023 | 92.5%89th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 77.5%2017 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 39.7%5th/217 · 2025 | 27.3%51st/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 8.4%53rd/193 · 2024 | 7.0%85th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 99.3%2019 | 99.9%3rd/98 · 2021 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 75.9%40th/150 · 2023 | 60.4%59th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.91529th/193 · 2023 | 0.83264th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 34.356th/108 · 2023 | 33.042nd/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.9%48th/108 · 2023 | 0.1%10th/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 96.8%43rd/150 · 2024 | 76.3%80th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 78.2%53rd/144 · 2024 | 58.2%76th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 89.2%63rd/186 · 2024 | 94.4%31st/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 13352nd/210 · 2024 | 1869th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 31.853rd/208 · 2024 | 27.170th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.8019th/164 · 2022 | 2.7071st/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 17,30512th/82 · 2021 | 85,5443rd/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 20.3 m34th/161 · 2023 | 98.9 m8th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 5.08152nd/203 · 2024 | 13.98190th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 17.5%116th/212 · 2021 | 3.5%172nd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 14.378th/200 · 2023 | 11.659th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 31.8%109th/214 · 2024 | 50.8%56th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 2,24852nd/149 · 2024 | 5,72711th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 71.342nd/205 · 2025 | 42.1143rd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 59.860th/207 · 2025 | 28.2167th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 68.359th/207 · 2025 | 37.7186th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 73.682nd/207 · 2025 | 49.0179th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 65.852nd/205 · 2025 | 34.9182nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 77.634th/205 · 2025 | 31.3178th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.615th/145 · 2023 | 6.8107th/145 · 2021 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $48.14 bn12th/156 · 2025 | $190.42 bn3rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.9%71st/156 · 2025 | 7.5%4th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 3.7%116th/154 · 2025 | 19.8%9th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 338,00020th/170 · 2020 | 1.5 m4th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.35%46th/168 · 2020 | 1.98%29th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 566.0 m18th/163 · 2025 | 129.0 m44th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.9 bn6th/65 · 2025 | 1.9 bn5th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.38%34th/110 · 2023 | 0.94%44th/110 · 2024 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 9,12011th/137 · 2024 | 21,5027th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 82,7718th/197 · 2023 | 85,5587th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Italy or Russia?
Russia has the larger population: 143.5 m (2025) compared with 58.9 m for Italy (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Italy or Russia?
Russia is larger: 17,125,190 km² (2024) compared with 302,070 km² for Italy (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Italy or Russia?
Russia has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $7.24 trn intl. (2025) compared with $3.70 trn intl. for Italy (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Italy or Russia?
Italy has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $62,803 intl. (2025) compared with $49,568 intl. for Russia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Italy or Russia?
Italy has the higher life expectancy at birth: 84.0 years (2024) compared with 73.4 years for Russia (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Italy or Russia?
Russia spends more on the military: $190.42 bn (2025) compared with $48.14 bn for Italy (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Italy or Russia?
Italy: 75.8 points (19th in the world); Russia: 63.8 points (51st). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Australia
Canada
Indonesia
Mexico
South AfricaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Italy vs Russia — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/italy-vs-russia. Data as of 26 October 2026.